Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma. File | Photo credit: ANI
ANDAfter being in limbo for more than a year, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma seems to be consolidating his position with decisive steps ahead of the second anniversary of his government. Mr Sharma, 58, is one of the longest-serving leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and has been appointed as the state general secretary of the party four times in the past.
An upper-caste Brahmin BJP face who was a first-time MLA from Sanganer seat in Jaipur district was picked by the party in a surprise move to head its government in Rajasthan in December 2023. He beat several veterans to become the state’s 14th chief minister after keeping a low profile for several years.
In the murky political waters of the desert state, Mr Sharma faced the challenge of governance, dealing with powerful ruling party factions led by former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, maverick leader Kirodi Lal Meena, union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and BJP state president Madan Rathore. He also dealt with constant criticism from opposition Congress leaders.
Earlier BJP governments in the state were ousted from power mainly due to lack of coordination between the administration and the party organization. With critics, political observers and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) cadre keenly watching him, Mr Sharma has his work cut out for him as he tries to quell doubts about his leadership.
Earlier this year, Congress leader Ashok Gehlot alleged that some people in the BJP hatched a “conspiracy” to topple Mr Sharma; this created a ripple in political circles. While BJP leaders dismissed Mr Gehlot’s claims as baseless, Mr Sharma became cautious about his position in the party and turned his attention to emphasizing development work. At the same time, Ms. Raje stood aside in important party matters. This helped Mr. Sharma strengthen his position.
The defeat of BJP candidate Morpal Suman in the Assembly by-election in Baran’s Anta district last month also helped strengthen Mr Sharma’s leadership. Mr. Suman, a local leader with RSS connections, was known for his closeness to the Vasundhara Raje family, which played a role in his rise in the Hadoti region. His candidature was reportedly completed without the Chief Minister’s confidence.
While the defeat in Baran was an embarrassment for the ruling party, Mr. Sharma has since shifted focus to mid-term actions and achievements and efforts to strengthen coordination between the government and BJP workers. The recent reshuffle of the state bureaucracy, where Chief Secretary Sudhansh Pant was shifted to the Center on deputation midway through his tenure, had Mr. Sharma’s clear approval. Mr Pant fell out with the chief minister after he was allegedly sidelined in key decisions. He was replaced by V. Srinivas, who spent the last seven years on deputation to New Delhi.
The BJP government has won the trust of the disillusioned youth with actions related to the leaks of competitive papers and job notifications. The launch of the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project and the Yamuna water agreement with Haryana were hailed as initiatives that would significantly address the problem of drinking and irrigation water scarcity in a large number of districts.
The state government organized the ‘Rising Rajasthan’ Global Investment Summit in Jaipur in December 2024, which facilitated the signing of an MoU worth ₹35 crore. Mr. Sharma recently announced that the implementation of projects worth ₹ 7 crore based on these MoUs has already started while the first Pravasi Rajasthani Diwas will be observed on December 10.
He urged the party workers to highlight the achievements of his administration in the last two years. Special programs to mark the government’s second anniversary later this month have been designed to boost various sectors with a special focus on agriculture, tourism and industry.
While the anniversary celebrations are expected to benefit farmers, livestock keepers and various business sectors to boost the state’s economic growth and boost overall development, Mr. Sharma needs to present a united face of the ruling party, remain focused on governance and appeal to those sections of the society who have reservations about the BJP.
Published – 9 Dec 2025 0:20 AM IST
